2.01.2006

NOVENA - MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP

Opening Hymn: (Stand) Immaculate MotherImmaculate Mother,To you do we pleadTo ask God, our FatherFor help in our need.Ave, Ave, Ave MariaAve, Ave, Ave MariaWe pray for our country,The land of our birth;We pray for all nationsThat peace be on earth.Ave, Ave, Ave MariaAve, Ave, Ave MariaOpening Prayers: (Remain standing)Priest: In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Sprit.All: Amen.Priest: Brothers and sisters, as children of our Blessed Mother, we are gathered before her miraculous picture to honour her and to pray for all our needs. Unworthy children that we are, let us first of all ask God’s mercy and pardon.All: Merciful Father * you sent your Divine Son * to redeem us by his death and resurrection * and to give us new life. By this you make us your children * to love one another in Christ. How many times in the past * we have forgotten this sublime dignity. We have sinned against our brothers and sisters; * we have offended you. Merciful Father, forgive us. Repenting sincerely of our sins we ask your mercy; * may we always live as your truly devoted children.

Reading of Petitions and Thanksgivings

Sermonette (In keeping with the liturgical season)

Mary Immaculate Star of the Morning

(Stand)Mary Immaculate, star of the morning,Chosen before the creation began,Destined to bring, through the light of your dawning,Conquest of Satan and rescue to man.We sinners honour your sinless perfection;Fallen and weak, for God’s mercy we plead.Grant us the shield of your mighty protectionMeasure your aid by the depth of our need.Refrain:Bend from your throne at the voice of our crying.Look to this earth where your footsteps have trodStretch out your arms to us, living and dying,Mary Immaculate, Mother of God.

Novena PrayerDear Mother of Perpetual Help * from the cross Jesus gave you to us for our Mother. You are the kindest the most loving * of all mothers. Look tenderly on us your children * as we now ask you to help us in all our needs * especially this one … (Pause to recall your petition). While you were on earth, dear Mother * you willingly shared in the sufferings of your Son. Strengthened by your faith and confidence * in the fatherly love of God * you accepted the mysterious designs of His will.We too, have our crosses and trials. Sometimes they almost crush us to the ground. Dearest Mother * share with us your abundant faith and confidence in God. Make us aware that God never ceases to love us; * that He answers all our prayers * in the way that is best for us. Strengthen our hearts to carry the cross * in the footsteps of your Divine Son. Help us to realize * that he who shares the cross of Christ * will certainly share His resurrection.Dearest Mother, as we worry about our own problems * let us not forget the needs of others. You always loved others so much; * help us to do the same. While praying for our intentions * and for the intentions of all here present at this Novena * we earnestly ask you, our Mother * to help us comfort the sick and the dying * give hope to the poor and the unemployed * heal the broken-hearted * lighten the burden of the oppressed * teach justice to their oppressors and bring back to God all those who have offended Him.Dearest Mother, help us to avoid sin which separates us from our heavenly Father * and from one another. Full of trust in you * we place ourselves under the mantle of your maternal protection * and confidently hope for your powerful help. Amen.

Prayer for the HomeMother of Perpetual Help * we choose you as Queen of our homes. We ask you to bless all our families * with your tender motherly love. May the Sacrament of Marriage * bind husbands and wives so closely together * that they will always be faithful to each other * and love one another as Christ loves his Church.We ask you to bless all parents. May they love and cherish the children * whom God has entrusted to them. May they always give them the example * of a truly Christian life. Help them to bring up their children * in the love and fear of God. Bless all children * that they may love, honor and obey * their fathers and mothers. To your loving care * we especially entrust the youth of today.Give us all a sense of responsibility * that we may do our part * in making our home a haven of peace * like your own home at Nazareth. We take you as our model. Help us to grow daily in genuine love of God and neighbor * so that justice and peace may happily reign * in the entire family of mankind. Amen.

Petitions to our Mother of Perpetual HelpHoly MaryPray for us.Holy Virgin, conceived without sinPray for us.Our Mother of Perpetual HelpPray for us.We sinners call to youLoving Mother, help us.Seasonal-ADVENT:That we may prepare like you for the coming of ChristLoving Mother, help us.CHRISTMAS:That we may give out hearts completely to Christ, this ChristmasLoving Mother, help us.LENT:That we may be faithful to the promises we made at BaptismLoving Mother, help us.EASTER:That we may rejoice with you at Christ’s victory over deathLoving Mother, help us.Other Weeks:That we may be filled with the Holy Sprit and become courageous witnesses of Christ’s love for menLoving Mother, help us.That we may be more and more like our Divine Lord, as you wereLoving Mother, help us.That we may be meek and humble of heart like your son, JesusLoving Mother, help us.That we may fear losing God’s friendship forever by unrepented sinLoving Mother, help us.That we may seek Christ’s mercy and forgiveness constantly in the sacrament of PenanceLoving Mother, help us.That we may be aware of God speaking to us in the events of daily lifeLoving Mother, help us.That we may pray daily with love and trust, especially in moments of temptationLoving Mother, help us.That we may realize the value of worshipping God together in the EucharistLoving Mother, help us.That we may grow in the love of Christ and neighbor by frequent CommunionLoving Mother, help us.That we may reverence our bodies as temples of the Holy SpiritLoving Mother, help us.That we may strive to be true Christians by our loving concern for othersLoving Mother, help us.That we may proclaim the dignity of work by doing our own work conscientiouslyLoving Mother, help us.That we may forgive from our heart those who have wronged usLoving Mother, help us.That we may see the evil of seeking our own interest at the expense of othersLoving Mother, help us.That we may work for the just distribution of this world’s goodsLoving Mother, help us.That we may share our talents with others for the good of the communityLoving Mother, help us.That we may accept our responsibility in the community in a spirit of genuine serviceLoving Mother, help us.To pray that the Holy Spirit may guide and strengthen Pope Benedict XVI, the Bishops and the clergyLoving Mother, help us.That we may be blessed with an increase in priestly and religious vocationsLoving Mother, help us.That we may bring the knowledge and love of Christ to those who do not know himLoving Mother, help us.That we may be aware of our dependence in God in the midst of human achievementsLoving Mother, help us.That we may be ready at death to enter the home of our heavenly FatherLoving Mother, help us.That we may die at peace with Christ and our fellowmenLoving Mother, help us.That we may be comforted at the death of our dear ones by our hope in the risen LordLoving Mother, help us.To pray that our departed brothers and sisters quickly share in your son’s resurrectionLoving Mother, help us.Let us pray in silence for our own intentions (Pause)All: Holy Mary help us in our needs * pray for all the people of God; * may all experience your perpetual help.Priest: Lord, you gave us Mary to be our Mother ever ready to help us; grant us the grace to have recourse to her in all our needs.All: Amen.

Consecration(1st Wednesday of the month)Immaculate Virgin Mary * Mother of God and Mother of the Church * you are also our Mother of Perpetual Help. With hearts full of love for you * we consecrate ourselves to your Immaculate Heart * so that we may be your devoted children. Obtain for us true sorrow for our sins * and fidelity to the promises of our Baptism.We consecrate our minds and hearts to you * that we may always do the will of our heavenly Father. We consecrate our lives to you * that we may love God better * and live not for ourselves but for Christ your Son * and that we may see him and serve him in others.By this humble act of consecration * dear Mother of Perpetual Help * we pledge to model our lives on you * the perfect Christian * so that consecrated to you in life and in death * we may belong to your Divine Son for all eternity. Amen.

Mother of Christ(Stand)Mother of Christ, Mother of ChristWhat shall I ask of thee?I do not sigh for the wealth of earthFor the joys that fade and fleeBut, Mother of Christ, Mother of ChristThis do I long to seeThe bliss untold which your arms enfoldThe treasure upon your knee.Mother of Christ, Mother of ChristI toss on a stormy sea,Oh, lift your Child as a beacon lightTo the port where I fain would beAnd, Mother of Christ, Mother of ChristThis do I ask of thee,When the voyage is o’er,O stand on the shoreAnd show him at last to me.Benediction or Holy Mass(Suggested format for Benediction)(The Blessed Sacrament is Exposed) (Kneel)O Saving VictimO saving victim op’ning wideThe gate of heaven to men below!Our foes press on from ev’ry sideYour aid supply, your strength bestow.To your great name be endless praise,Immortal God-head, one in three;Oh, grant us endless length of daysIn our true native land with thee.Amen.

Silent Prayer (Pause)

Thanksgiving PrayerLord Jesus Christ * truly present in the Most Blessed Eucharist * we adore you. It has pleased the Father * that in you all his fullness should dwell * and that through you * he should reconcile all things to himself. Grant us the grace to be truly grateful * for all that our Father has done for us. Grant that we may be truly sorry for our sins * and do penance for them.Through you, we thank the Eternal Father for the gift of life. He has created all the wonderful things of this world for us. May we learn to use them well * so that through them * we may grow in love for Him.Above all, we thank our Father * for sending you to us * as the greatest expression of his love * to save us and all creation * by your death and resurrection.We thank you Lord * for giving us your own Mother to be our Mother of Perpetual Help. May the countless favours we have received through her intercession, * and especially through the Novena * inspire us to greater confidence in God’s loving mercy * and her perpetual help. Grant that we may always do the holy Will of God * and persevere in his love.To the Most Holy Trinity * Father, Son and Holy Spirit * be honour, glory and thanksgiving forever and ever. Amen.

Silent Prayer (Pause)

Prayer for the SickLord Jesus Christ * you bore our sufferings and carried our sorrows * in order to show us clearly * the value of human weakness and patience; * graciously hear our prayers for the sick. Grant that those who are weighed down * with pain and other afflictions of illness * may realize that they are among the chosen ones * whom you call blessed. Help them to understand * that they are united with you in your sufferings * for the salvation of the world. Amen.

Let us Raise our VoiceLet us raise our voiceTo proclaim our faithChrist the Lord for us has died.Dying, He destroyed our death.Rising, He restored our life.O Lord Jesus, we awaitYour last return in glory.When we eat the breadAnd we drink the cupIn the Blessed Eucharist,We meet You, our Risen Saviour,Giving life to us anew.Through life’s journey, be with usTo strengthen us forever. Amen.V. You have given them bread from Heaven. (Alleluia)R. The source of all happiness. (Alleluia)LET US PRAY:Lord God, by the paschal mystery of the death and resurrection of Your only Son, You accomplished the work of man’s redemption. Full of trust, we proclaim that paschal mystery in the sacramental signs of the Eucharist. Help us to see ever growing in us the fruits of your saving work through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Divine PraisesBlessed be God.Blessed be His Holy Name.Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.Blessed be the Name of Jesus.Blessed be his most Sacred Heart.Blessed be his most Precious Blood.Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the altar.Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.Blessed be her glorious Assumption.Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.

(The Blessed Sacrament is returned to the tabernacle)O Sacrament Most HolyO Sacrament , Most Holy,O Sacrament divine.All praise and all thanksgivingBe every moment Thine.

Hail Mary(Sung) (Stand)Hail Mary, full of graceThe Lord is with youBlessed are you among women,And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.Holy Mary, Mother of God,Pray for us sinners.Now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Prayer for Private DevotionsMemorareRemember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help and sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I hasten to you. O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you, I come; before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, do not despise my petition, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Prayer for Financial AidRealizing, dear Mother, that you are our perpetual help, not only in spiritual but also in temporal necessities, we ask you to help us in our present financial worry. Because of unavoidable circumstances which have arisen in our lives, we are in great want and financial embarrassment, since we are unable to meet our honest debts. We are not asking, dearest Mother of Perpetual Help, for wealth, if the possession of it is not in accordance with the will of God; we merely ask you for that assistance which will help us to settle our present obligations. We believe, dear Mother of God, that you are extremely kind and generous to all your loving and devoted children. We plead with you, therefore, dear Mother, to obtain for us the help we so urgently need. We are trying so earnestly to solve our problem but we believe in your powerful intercession with Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son and our Redeemer. Amen.

TemptationMary, my Mother, your love for us could not be greater or more powerful. You are rich in love and your power brings us relief. You want everyone to be saved. I beg you therefore, protect me in temptation and strengthen me when I weaken. I struggle daily to be faithful to Jesus your son. Help me my Mother at every moment. But above all take me by the hand when you see that I am weakening and about to fall. I will have to battle with temptation till the day I die. My Lady, you are my hope, my refuge, my strength; never let me lose the grace of God. In every temptation I resolve to turn to you at once and pray: Mary help me. (St. Alphonsus)

Prayer for Company-KeeperEternal Father, through the powerful intercession of our Mother of Perpetual Help, I come to beg Your guidance and strength, during the important time of courtship.Help us to realize, that genuine love, deep and lasting, is Your own gift to those who respect and reverence one another. Take from our hearts all trace of selfishness, so that in all things we may help each other to grow in true friendship. Convince us that true love will not hurt... use... or abuse the one loved.To this end, keep ever growing in us an ardent love of Your Son and Our Saviour Jesus Christ, by means of constant prayer, and frequent Holy Communion.May the bright hope of a happy marriage, make us determined to prepare well, by avoiding sin, and the dangers that can so easily lead us into sin.We thank You for our love, and we desire to consecrate it to You. Keep it always pure, so that we may continue to live as worthy children of Mary our Mother and you our heavenly Father. We ask you this through the Spirit of Jesus, The Holy Spirit of perfect Love. Amen